DEFENCE
Court Jails Ex-Air Force Chief, AVM Mamu Over Corruption
By Gowon Emakpe, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Air Vice Marshal Alkali Mohammadu Mamu, a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Holding Company and Air Force Commanding, Training Command at the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja.
This followed the appellate court’s reversal of his earlier discharge and acquittal on corruption charges by Justice Salisu Garba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgement yesterday, convicted and sentenced Mamu to two years imprisonment in respect of one (count two) out of the four counts.
The judgment read by Justice Yargata Byenchit Nimpar, which also had Justices Abdu Aboki and Emmanuel Akomaye Agim acquitted him on three other counts – one, three and four.
Mamu was one of the senior military officers accused of abusing their positions by the Presidential Committee on the Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement (CADEP), which was mandated to look into contracts awarded for military procurement.
The EFCC filed a four-count charge against Mamu in 2016 and was tried before the High Court of the FCT, following which Justice Garba, in a judgment on June 29, 2018, discharged and acquitted him on all four counts and held among others, that the prosecution failed to prove its case, a decision EFCC’s lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir appealed.
Justice Nimpar faulted the trial court’s rejection of the confessional statement made to investigators by Mamu, which the prosecution tendered in evidence at trial, noting that “the trial court failed in its duty by applying principles of law in a flawed manner, leading to the striking out of the confessional statement.
“He (the trial judge) erred. There was no legal basis for that action. Considering the evidence before the court, there was corroboration for the confessional statement particularly, the SEI Ltd’s payment for the cars, to the fertilizer company in which his (Mamu’s) daughters are directors.
“I find the confessional statement good to be evaluated for weight. I therefore disagree with the trial judge and find that the confessional statement was properly in evidence and must be evaluated along other pieces of evidence before the court.
“The sum of $300,000 was not legitimate income from his (Mamu’s) employers. Mr. Hima Aboubakar was not respondent’s employer and had no business paying the respondent any sum as appreciation. This is coming at the backdrop of the admission by the respondent that he got more than he was allegedly entitled to.
“On count two, I find for the appellant that it proved the allegation beyond reasonable doubt. I find the respondent guilty on count two. On counts one, three and four, there was no direct admission and even though it was established that the respondents got cars paid for by SEI Nig Ltd (Hima Aboubakar) and delivered by Coscharis.
“Flowing from above therefore, the respondent is discharged and acquitted on counts one, three and four of the charge, but guilty of count two.
“Considering the circumstances and the facts in this appeal, particularly the fact that the respondent quickly refunded the sum of $300,000, there is no history of previous conviction before the court. Therefore, in exercise of the court’s discretion, the respondent is hereby sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and in the alternative, an option of N500, 000 fine,” Justice Nimpar said.
The Delta State Police Command has arrested two suspected car snatchers and recovered a Toyota Camry in the state.
The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Warri.
Edafe said that the suspects were arrested on Tuesday by operatives attached to the Ekpan Division of the Nigeria Police Force.
He said that the suspects were apprehended at the New Era axis of Jakpa Road, Ekpan Community, where the stolen vehicle was also recovered.
“On Sept. 8, the Ekpan Police Division received a report concerning a Toyota Camry car stolen in Benin City on Monday.
“The operatives embarked on an intelligence-led investigation and trailed the vehicle to the New Era area of Jakpa Road in Ekpan Community.
“The operatives immediately proceeded to the location, sighted the vehicle and laid an ambush, leading to the arrest of the two suspects and recovery of the vehicle,” he said.
Edafe said the suspects were currently in police custody, adding that investigation into the matter was ongoing.
He said the Commissioner of Police in charge of the command, Samuel Erale, had reiterated the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks in the state. (NAN)
DEFENCE
Army Strengthens Operational Effectiveness, National Security, Repositions Senior Leadership
By David Torough, Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the strategic redeployment of senior officers to key command, operational and staff appointments across the Nigerian Army (NA), as part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen leadership and align the Service’s command structure with Nigeria’s evolving security environment.
The exercise prioritises critical operational theatres and strategic appointments to ensure the right leadership, experience and expertise are positioned to deliver decisive effects.In the new postings, Major General IA Ajose moves from Army Headquarters (AHQ), Department of Army Operations, to Theatre Command Joint Task Force (JTF) North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), as Theatre Commander, while Major General AE Abubakar has been redeployed from OPHK, to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC) as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.
Major General AM Alechenu moves from Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Garrison to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, while Major General RT Utsaha moves from AHQ Department of Army Standards and Evaluation to DHQ Garrison as Commander.Similarly, Major General AM Umar moves from AHQ Department of Civil-Military Affairs (DCMA) to Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) as Commandant, while Major General UM Alkali moves from AWCN to AHQ DCMA. Major General GS Muhammed moves from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation (NAFIC) as Director General, while Major General JE Osifo moves from NAFIC to the Military Pension Board (MPB) as Chairman and Major General IE Ekpenyong has been redeployed to DHQ Department of Defence Logistics as Director Engineering Services.
At the operational level, Brigadier General AA Bello moves from 6 Division Garrison/Sector 3 JTF South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE, to DHQ Department of Defence Operations. Brigadier General MS Adamu has been redeployed from Nigerian Army Women Command to the newly established 8 Brigade as Commander, while Brigadier General MS Sule moves from Special Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE to 27 Task Force Brigade as Commander.
Similarly, Brigadier General I Sule, has been redeployed from the Directorate of Recruitment Management to 6 Division Garrison as Commander while Brigadier General E Azenda, moves from Land Forces Simulation Centre to 2 Division Garrison as Commander and Brigadier General AS Bugaje, moves from 2 Division Garrison to the Land Forces Simulation Centre as Director Administration.
The COAS has charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through exemplary leadership, operational innovation, professionalism and unwavering commitment to duty and relentlessly focused on the constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and supporting civil authority in maintaining peace and security.
The NA remains resolute in sustaining a dynamic leadership and force-employment framework that enhances operational outcomes, strengthens joint and inter-agency coordination and improves the capacity of the Service to respond decisively to contemporary and emerging threats in furtherance of Nigeria’s national security objectives.
Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have foiled a cattle rustling operation and recovered more than 500 cattle in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The troops, from Sector 1, Joint Task Force North West, conducted the operation on Tuesday following a distress call from residents over cattle rustling at Rugar Mande Kurmin.
Lt.
-Col. Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.Danja said that upon receiving the distress call, the troops swiftly mobilised to the suspected withdrawal routes of the terrorists and established blocking positions.
He said the troops engaged the terrorists from multiple positions, forcing them to withdraw in disarray and abandon the rustled cattle.
According to him, all the recovered cattle were subsequently handed over to their respective owners.
The media officer said the successful operation further demonstrated the troops’ commitment to protecting lives and property and disrupting criminal activities across the Joint Operations Area.
He urged members of the public to continue providing security agencies with timely and relevant information to enable the military to eradicate terrorist elements within the Joint Operations Area.
Danja reaffirmed the commitment of Operation Fansan Yamma to denying criminal elements freedom of action across the Joint Operations Area.(NAN)
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